Hurricane Florence: Get your tech ready for the coming storm
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Hurricane Florence is coming, and is unfortunately bringing with it the potential to cause "massive damage" to parts of the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. If you're in the path then here are some tips on how to get your tech ready for what Mother Nature plans to throw at you, helping you and your family stay safe.
Also: Preparing for Hurricane Florence: Storm trackers and other survival tools
Charge all your gadgets in advance
Do it now, while you can! This is especially important if you live somewhere where the power is likely to go out.
Also, remember to charge up any portable battery packs and rechargeable batteries that you might have (you might not need them, but they may help a neighbor out of a bind).
- Keep all your devices on charge for as long as possible just in case the power goes out.
- If the power starts browning out then it might be a good idea to move your chargers to a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) if you have one in case they or the devices connected to them are damaged.
- If you have a gas-powered generator, test it in advance of needing it, especially if it's possibly still filled with older, stale gas (and common sense dictates that this isn't the sort of thing you run indoors).
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Blow the dust off your radio
The internet might go down, along with your phone and power, but the radio will still work. If you have one handy make sure that the batteries are fresh and that you know how to use it (do a quick Google search in advance for local radio stations you can tune into).
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Keep an eye on the weather
Here are a selection of websites that will let you do just that. You might also want to link to a local weather station and news site.
And here are a couple of apps to help you stay informed:
- Dark Sky (iPhone and iPad)
- Arcus Weather (Android)
For a rundown of more apps and services you can use, check out "Preparing for Hurricane Florence: Storm trackers and other survival tools."
Familiarize yourself with any kit you don't know how to use
Not sure how your portable battery pack, generator or new weather app works? The time to be figuring this out is now, not when you're hip-deep in water and the lights are out!
Download (and print out) any manuals you might need now.
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Weatherproof your devices
If you have big, cumbersome weatherproof cases for your smartphones and tablets that you don't normally use, now is the time to put them on. Go on, no one will judge you!
If you don't have a custom case then a Ziploc bag is better than nothing. And if you have one of those little bags of silica gel that comes with all sorts of things, throw one of those into the bag with your device as it'll help absorb any water that makes its way into the bag.
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Back up your data
If you live somewhere which is vulnerable to flooding then you might want to back up your data now just in case water gets to one -- or more -- of your devices.
An offsite or cloud backup is preferable, but if all you have is an external hard drive or USB key, then that will have to do (pop it into a waterproof bag to give it a fighting chance).
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Check your car kit
Here's a quick checklist of things to consider if you have to hit the road to get away from the storm:
- If you don't have to drive, don't
- Make sure you have a chargers and cables for your portable devices
- Throw blankets, drinks, and snacks in the back (just in case)
Stay dry, stay safe! And if you have any tip, feel free to share them in the comments section below.
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